El Zarape

This casual neighborhood joint serves quintessential Cali-Mex including an array of seafood taco options including shrimp, salmon, scallop, lobster, mahi-mahi, and calamari. Less greasy than our bounty of 24-hour ‘Berto options, rest assured that the fish will taste fresh, the veggies will be bright and colorful, and the chicken and beef will have been liberated from gristle. Most of the tacos are served with shredded cabbage, big hunks of tomato, shredded jack cheese, and a small stream of crema.

Try a shredded beef or chicken taco or tostada with generous mounds of juicy, slow-cooked meat, or scallop burritos or well-prepared soups. Inexpensive.

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Vegetarian chorizo? Well, they don’t call it that, but El Zarape on Park Blvd. in University Heights serves both soft tacos and burritos filled with a tangy, succulent soy-meat product reminiscent of chorizo. That might sound too weird for meat eaters, but if they tried it, they would probably like it. All of El Zarape’s burritos are big, hefty creations; many with surprising fillings. If you are a pescetarian, and you know who you are, you will appreciate the fact that you can get a 99 cent beer battered fish taco; or maybe you’d prefer a burrito, taco or enchilada stuffed with salmon, lobster, scallops, or even calamari. El Zarape uses lots of fresh ingredients and their portions are huge. You can also get everything you like with beef (shredded, barbecued or served as fajitas and carne asada) or chicken (grilled, shredded or breaded). If you’re feeling adventuresome, or health conscious, you can check out the vegetarian items. They have pinto and black beans; both cooked without lard, but keep in mind that their rice is prepared with chicken stock. Some of the “veggie” burritos come with rice, so just ask for them to leave it out if you need to. Other vegetarian choices include potato filled rolled tacos with guacamole; black bean low-fat veggie burritos; soy burritos; and steamed, marinated vegetable burritos. They’re fiber filled and heart healthy. El Zarape features a salsa bar with three excellent salsas and crispy, spicy carrots that you can’t stop eating. The seating is limited at this location, but a second El Zarape will be opening soon, at Adams Avenue and 32nd Street. Two stores are better than one and they need both to accommodate the hungry people that are always in line.